# Homeless immigrant with no money to her name spends $50 on pizzas, what? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 9, 2018, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-immigrant-with-no-money-to-her-name-spends-50-on-pizzas-what/813856 "2018-05-09T11:08:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-immigrant-with-no-money-to-her-name-spends-50-on-pizzas-what/813856/141 "2018-05-19T19:01:48Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > so now she took a cab through 2 countries? No. Try reading the article. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-immigrant-with-no-money-to-her-name-spends-50-on-pizzas-what/813856/142 "2018-05-19T19:44:00Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > No. Try reading the article. I’m reading your posts. You said she would take a cab to get her canned food. I’m just showing you how the idea sounds. did she take a cab to get her pizza? No? Did she take a cab from her pizza? ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-immigrant-with-no-money-to-her-name-spends-50-on-pizzas-what/813856/143 "2018-05-19T19:52:35Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I’m reading your posts. You said she would take a cab to get her canned food. I’m just showing you how the idea sounds. did she take a cab to get her pizza? No? Did she take a cab from her pizza? She did take a cab to get her pizza. That’s the whole point. Like I said, try reading the article. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-immigrant-with-no-money-to-her-name-spends-50-on-pizzas-what/813856/144 "2018-05-19T20:01:00Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Yes, I see what you mean. I think it is an understandable mistake, but it’s still a mistake. > > In a way, it’s like people who win large windfalls in the lottery, and then end up bankrupt in a few years. They have no experience in handling money, and “easy come easy go” is not the path into the middle class, or to stay in the upper. “He who is faithful over little is faithful over much”, and vice versa. > > Maybe I am coming across as looking down my nose at her because she doesn’t scrimp and scrape and save every penny. Maybe I am looking down my nose. But if she wants to make it in the USA, she has a much better chance if she acts like the ant and not the grasshopper. > > My father taught me how to budget when I was a wee **Shodan**. First rule is, 10% to the church, 10% to savings, and live on the rest. He did it when he was poor, and when he was rich. I did it when I was poor, and I do it now when I am no longer poor. Budgeting is not a guarantee of reaching the middle class, of course, and nobody can be sure if this woman could have treated her kids on $40 instead of $50 and ended up with $5 in her pocket she would succeed in the US. But it is IMO a better frame of mind. > > The race is not always to the swift nor the battle to the strong, but that’s the way to bet. > > Regards, > Shodan Are you [Ned Crimwelt?](https://www.theonion.com/an-open-letter-to-a-starving-child-1819583391) 'cos you, like that satirical column, are a prime example of American Judgmentalism. Thinking you can tell other people what to do with what they have even though you have zero knowledge of the situation they’re in. > [@](#): > > Maybe I am coming across as looking down my nose at her because she doesn’t scrimp and scrape and save every penny. Maybe I am looking down my nose. But if she wants to make it in the USA, she has a much better chance if she acts like the ant and not the grasshopper. we’re talking about someone who has no house. no bank account. no where to save what she has except on her person, and you can “act like the ant” all you want, but if that’s the situation you’re in you’re at the mercy of whatever bigger ant comes by and decides to just take your stuff. I mean, I can turn this around on you: > [@](#): > > My father taught me how to budget when I was a wee **Shodan**. First rule is, 10% to the church, 10% to savings, and live on the rest. Sounds to me like if you’re that poor you should find something far better to do with that first 10%. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-immigrant-with-no-money-to-her-name-spends-50-on-pizzas-what/813856/145 "2018-05-19T20:24:25Z")
A woman travels very far in harsh dangerous conditions, young children in tow. Near the US border a kind soul gives this woman $50. She buys 3 large pizzas, two at $5, another at, maybe$12? Also wings and fries, which run her about $7. After tax, she probably has about $15 left over. She has brought some pizza flavored joy to her children’s lives, children who haven’t seen much if any joy in a long time. She may also have shared a couple of slices with other migrants, I don’t know and neither do you. You do not know this woman. What she does with the money does not affect you in any way. But you (Well a lot of you) have chosen to cast scorn and judgement upon her for the terrible crime of trying to give her kids a nice night for once. Find a better way to pass the time. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-immigrant-with-no-money-to-her-name-spends-50-on-pizzas-what/813856/146 "2018-05-19T21:22:08Z")
What the fuck does the OP think she ought to do with just $50? Put it in the bank? Her expense makes complete sense for her circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-immigrant-with-no-money-to-her-name-spends-50-on-pizzas-what/813856/147 "2018-05-19T22:27:40Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > What the fuck does the OP think she ought to do with just $50? day one, spend money on a cab to take children to a fast food place for nutrition-free calories because it would make them happy. day two, … ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-immigrant-with-no-money-to-her-name-spends-50-on-pizzas-what/813856/148 "2018-05-20T11:36:22Z")
This thread reminds me of a Herman Mellville quote: > [@Herman Mellville](#): > > Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well- warmed, and well-fed. Some people on this thread are expecting this woman to exercise a monastic level of self restraint. Shodan and the others can pontificate all they want to about how it was a bad financial decision on her part, but I doubt that they would do better if they were facing identical circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-immigrant-with-no-money-to-her-name-spends-50-on-pizzas-what/813856/149 "2018-05-20T12:37:36Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > We disagree. It \*is \*shameful to take charity. Sometimes it is unavoidable, but it is nonetheless. Why is it shameful to take charity if you need it? We’re not even talking tax dollars here. We’re talking about a gift of money that was freely and voluntarily offered to her. If it’s because she didn’t earn it, is it shameful to inherit money from one’s parents? ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-immigrant-with-no-money-to-her-name-spends-50-on-pizzas-what/813856/150 "2018-05-20T15:35:48Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > This thread reminds me of a Herman Mellville quote: > > Some people on this thread are expecting this woman to exercise a monastic level of self restraint. Shodan and the others can pontificate all they want to about how it was a bad financial decision on her part, but I doubt that they would do better if they were facing identical circumstances. And should any of them ever fall on hard times, we can criticize them for driving their BMW SUV to the store and buying that inflatable barbecue set for their in ground swimming pool, rather than saving that money or using it to stock up on shelf stable foods for when they may need it later. Shodan says he only saves 10%. Why not more? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-immigrant-with-no-money-to-her-name-spends-50-on-pizzas-what/813856/151 "2018-05-20T19:07:32Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > Some people on this thread are expecting this woman to exercise a monastic level of self restraint. Refraining from blowing your last $50 on stuff you don’t need is “monastic”? You don’t know a lot of monks, do you? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-immigrant-with-no-money-to-her-name-spends-50-on-pizzas-what/813856/152 "2018-05-20T19:10:44Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Refraining from blowing your last $50 on stuff you don’t need is “monastic”? You don’t know a lot of monks, do you? After months of privation, I think that even a very monastic monk would succumb to some level of momentary decadence. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-immigrant-with-no-money-to-her-name-spends-50-on-pizzas-what/813856/153 "2018-05-20T20:05:42Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Refraining from blowing your last $50 on stuff you don’t need is “monastic”? You don’t know a lot of monks, do you? > Regards, > Shodan What makes you think they didn’t need what they got? What makes you so sure you know the best balance of needs and resources for them? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-immigrant-with-no-money-to-her-name-spends-50-on-pizzas-what/813856/154 "2018-05-20T20:26:04Z")
It would have been much smarter for these people to go to the local grocery store and buy and bag of rice and some beans with maybe a bit of pork for flavoring. They could then have use the leftover money to purchase a stove and a supply a fuel to cook it on, some pots and pans, utensils and plates. Any leftover money should be split between a retirement fund, maybe a Roth IRA, and a 429 plan for the kid’s education. This just goes to show that you should not give poor people money as they will waste it and will not exhibit responsible financial behavior. I mean they get a windfall and they don’t invest it? Jesus I am glad these people are not Americans! ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-immigrant-with-no-money-to-her-name-spends-50-on-pizzas-what/813856/155 "2018-05-20T21:15:36Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Refraining from blowing your last $50 on stuff you don’t need is “monastic”? I don’t think it was said anywhere that this was her “last $50,” or that she had no other money at all. This was a gift from a stranger. For all anyone knows she has a stash of emergency money that she doesn’t want to dip into. It was a windfall, and was treated as such. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-immigrant-with-no-money-to-her-name-spends-50-on-pizzas-what/813856/156 "2018-05-20T23:55:00Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I don’t think it was said anywhere that this was her “last $50,” or that she had no other money at all. This was a gift from a stranger. For all anyone knows she has a stash of emergency money that she doesn’t want to dip into. It was a windfall, and was treated as such. It doesn’t have to be her last $50 dollars to be a poor decision. She’s homeless. She’s responsible for the well being of her children. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-immigrant-with-no-money-to-her-name-spends-50-on-pizzas-what/813856/157 "2018-05-21T10:49:10Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > It doesn’t have to be her last $50 dollars to be a poor decision. She’s homeless. She’s responsible for the well being of her children. Their emotional well being as well as their physical well being. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-immigrant-with-no-money-to-her-name-spends-50-on-pizzas-what/813856/158 "2018-05-21T12:12:00Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I don’t think it was said anywhere that this was her “last $50,” or that she had no other money at all. This was a gift from a stranger. For all anyone knows she has a stash of emergency money that she doesn’t want to dip into. It was a windfall, and was treated as such. Read the title of the thread. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-immigrant-with-no-money-to-her-name-spends-50-on-pizzas-what/813856/159 "2018-05-21T13:55:08Z")
NOBODY has a right to judge how you spend your money. I was poor and hungry. If someone had given me fifty dollars, I probably would have gone to the nearest fast food place and pigged out. I work now in a store, and every day I see people buy hundreds of dollars worth of paper and plastic plates, plastic silver wear, and cooking tins that will end up in the trash. I do think about people who can’t put food on the table when I am ringing their purchases up, but I don’t say anything. You have a right to spend your money on what you want. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-immigrant-with-no-money-to-her-name-spends-50-on-pizzas-what/813856/160 "2018-05-21T13:59:26Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > NOBODY has a right to judge how you spend your money. > > I was poor and hungry. If someone had given me fifty dollars, I probably would have gone to the nearest fast food place and pigged out. > > I work now in a store, and every day I see people buy hundreds of dollars worth of paper and plastic plates, plastic silver wear, and cooking tins that will end up in the trash. I do think about people who can’t put food on the table when I am ringing their purchases up, but I don’t say anything. > > You have a right to spend your money on what you want. Seems like you are judging the people buying hundreds of dollars worth of paper and plastic plates and silver wear. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-immigrant-with-no-money-to-her-name-spends-50-on-pizzas-what/813856.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-immigrant-with-no-money-to-her-name-spends-50-on-pizzas-what/813856.md?page=9)